Shells



2*Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B, A. HADPIELD. PROCESS} OF MANUFACTURING SHELLS.

No. 458,165. Patented Aug. 25, 1891.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2.

R. A. HADFIELD. rnoonss OF MANUFACTURING SHELLS.

No. 458,165. Patented Aug. 25, 1891.

WITH ESSES INVEN'I'O NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

ROBERT A. HADFIELD, OF SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND.

PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,165, dated August 25, 1891.

Application filed February 11, 1890- Serial No. 340.066. (No model. Patented in England December 18. 1888, No. 18,506.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT A. HADFIELD, of Shefiield, in the county of York, England, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of Shells, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de- -thereof mechanically reeling or rolling the same, thus effecting a considerable economy in t me, labor, and expense. This I efiect by casting a hollow steel or other shell and then placing it while hot between two rolls, a

suitable bed being provided to support the shell during the operation, and reeling or rolling the shell between such rolls. These latter may be of any suitable form and dimensions and operated in any convenient manner, so that the shell operated upon may be either wholly or partially reeled or r*lled, as desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a reeling or rolling machine constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a front elevation, thereof. I

To carry out my invention, I construct a machine which consists of a suitable frame A, whereon two rolls B are mounted. Such rolls are of surface form, corresponding to the form of the projectiles to be treated, and are each carried on a shaft 0, fitted at one end with a spur-pinion D. These spur-pinions are driven by a central pinion E, which is keyed on a shaft F.

G, Fig. 3, is a shaft having fast and loose pulleys H J fitted at one end and a spurpiniou K at the other end. These fast and loose pulleys receive motion from any suitable motor, while the pinion K transfers such motion to the pinion E.

A convenient space is left between the rolls B wherein to place the shell, which is supported on a revolving roller L, carried in bearings Z. NVhen the shell has been placed upon the supporting-roller L between the rolls B, the latter are adjusted in position by means of sliding bearings M, which are regulated by screw-spindles N, furnished with handles X, Fig. 2, by which they are operated.

O are fixed bearings which carry the rollershafts C. In order to facilitate the accurate adjustment of the rolls, suitable indicators or pointers X, Fig. 3, are fitted to the machine, which serve to assist the operator in accurately adjusting the same. Strong spiral springs m, Figs. 1 and 2, are fitted between the bearings M and O, by the operation of which springs the sliding bearings M are caused to return to their normal position when the screw-spindles are retracted. The rolls may correspond in size with each other, or they may be made of a different diameter, so as to vary the speed at which the shell is reeled or rolled.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: After the steel shell has been cast in a mold it is placed while in a heated state between the rolls B B upon the roller L, and by means of the spindles N these rolls are moved against the interposed shell and by their rotation in contact therewith finish and polish it, reducing'it accurately to proper dimensions and dispensing with the necessity forsubsequent grinding and polishing. Vhen the shell has been finished, the rolls are retracted and the shell removed.

I am aware of the following United States Letters Patent Nos. 365,980, 412,626, and 384,878, and Reissue No. 10,928, and do not claim what is therein shown and described.

The advantage of my invention'is in the improved quality of the shells produced by its use. In making forged common shells they must be drawn of mild steel, the use of hard steel being impracticable on account of the impossibility of drawing the shells. To draw the steel easily, it must be so mild that these forged shells are liable to set up in the guna most serious defect. This is also apt to occur in the use of cast shells, which may be too soft. By use of my invention, however, I am enabled to produce a cast-steel shell with a fine, hard, and close grain on the surface to the depth of several millimeters, thus stiffening and hardening the exterior and preventing the setting up of the shellin the gun when fired. Such hard surface and fine grain is produced by the rolling process, and a shell of better quality than heretofore IOC known is made without necessity for the pacting its surface by axial rolling, substanusual and expensive grinding and turning. tially as described.

Having thus particularly described and as- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set certained the nature of my said invention myhand this 27th day of December, A. D. and in' what manner the same is to be per- 1889.

formed I declare that What I claim is In the art of making hollow steel project- HADFIELD' iles, the improvement which consists in cast- Vitnesses: ing such projectile in substantially finished S. ERNEST BRANsoN.

IO form in a mold, and then finishing and coin-l FRANK M. CLARK. 

